Lock seal



Mh TZQ 1929 H. R. sxMPsoN 1,705,072

' Locx SEAL Filed May 26. 1925 A TTPRNEYS.

` IN V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 12, 1929..`

UNiri-:ID s'rliresA l1,7(rgo72f HIRAM R. sIMrsoN, or san rRAnerseo, cALiFoRNiA,

Loox SEAL;

Application filed May 26, 1925. Serial No. 32,973. I

' This invention relatesV to the class of locks and latches, and particularly to seals therefor, and has for its primary object the provision oli a seal which 'will positively prevent actuations of the bolt except by authorized persons, notwithstanding the infact that a' duplicate or master key of they lock may be in the p'ossessionof someone else, who, Without authority or` proper privilege, might attempt to elieet or torce an unlawful entry to the container oli which the lockis a part. l

My invention is particularly designed for use in connection with the safe deposit boxes generally found in banks, storage houses, commercial institutions, depositories or the like for locks of the swinging or lever tumbler type employing a flat sheet metal key. In banks or similarl `institutions where safe deposit boxes are rented bythe customersJ the customer is supplied with a key which is adapted to function in connection with a set oi swinging tumblers rof a lock so as to op-A control same aiter the tumblers are cratively lirst partly actuated bythe action of a master key.l My invention is directed to a seal which can be under the control ofthe customer so as tovordinarily close the lock barrel against entrance thereto of spurious keys or devices, l y that it passes through the key slot of the barrel in a manner that will permit it to be successfully operated by a co-acting 4releasing instrument in the hands of an authorized person.

In these safe deposit boxes of banks. or

similar institutions, itis sometimes neces? sary that the box be sealed so that the lawful subscriber or customer cannot enter it.

This occasion arises sometimes as a mat-v lfter of law, where'it is demandedthat the box be sealed in a Way that it cannot be opened by anyone, the oiiicials of the bank beingperhaps vthe custodians of the box in such event. In view thereof, it isa very important object of my invention to provide sealing means consisting of interchangeable devices, one of which may be substituted for the other se that at .times the sealed box will be exclusively under the controlof the r4oiiicials of the bank or someone other than the subscriber or customer.

Another object oli my invention is tolpro-v videY an article of this character which will fit the slot of the barrel and engage with the tumbler or tumblers so as'to prevent an ordiand the said seal is so designed" ter be fully described and particularly point- Y `ed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a single and preferred formkoi the invention, it being,"h`owever, understood that no limitations are necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and .modiiications'within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

Figure l is a liront vien'7 of a lock showing my seal operatively engaged therewith;

yFigure f2, is a similar view with the front plate'of the lock removed g' d Figure 3 .is a section on lineIIIIII 'of Figure 2; l,

Figure 4 is a view similar to FigurevB. showing'the seal arresting and releasing means in placein the keyhole of the l'oc'k alongside vthe seal 'to v'release :the tumbler mechanismi'rom the seal and permit jthe latter` to be AWithdrawn''preparatory tothe operation of inserting the Iregular key in the' barrel; i' I Figure :5 is avie'w in sideelevation of one of the arresting and seal removing elements; 'Y

Figure 6 is a' view inside elevation oit the form of seal usedin conjunction with the arresting element shown in Figure `5;'

Figure 7 is a View of another form of interchangeable seal arrestingl and extracting y element oei The lock shown herein is ofany suitable Well known construction consisting 'of a set of swinging type of tumblers l0, two revolvable key barrels of which ll is thel one under the control of the so-called master key, and 12 is the one under the control of the customer.

Both of these barrels are arranged to extend transversely under the tumblers, and the one indicated at 11 coacts with a key whose wards are adapted to permit of actuation of certain vof the tumblers and which key is called the master key, which in the case of safe deposit box locks is held by the bank. The other barrel 12 is adapted to function with the customers key, whose wards are designed to function with respectA to the other of the tumblers so that all of the tumblers may be ultimately moved with respect to the bolt.

The bolt 14 is also of the customary type adapted to be respectively locked and released by all of the tumblers. As the elements of the lock are of the usual well known construction, it is believed that the description recited in the foregoing will be sufficient for every purpose of demonstrating its operativeness in Vconjunction therewith of my invention. i 5

In Figure 5 'is shown in detail what I de scribe as a seal arresting and extracting element 15, the same being struck from a single piece of fiat sheet material, preferably metal, so as to provide at its front end a rounded nose 16 whose upper surface merges into a cam face 17, which latter leads Aon to a tumbler sustaining surface or shoulder 18 on the upper edge of the forward portion of the blank. This shoulder or sustaining surface is proportioned so as to accommodate a single tumbler, preferably the front one of the group employed in the present lock.

On the under side, at a point midway between the ends of the blank, is formed an extracting lug 19 whose vertical shoulder 20 merges onto an undercut or cam surface 21 on the bottom edge of the blank. The outer end of the blank is formed with a perforation 22 whereby it may be carried Von a pocket chain, key ring, or other loss preventing device capable of being worn on the person of the user. v

In Figure 6 I show in detail the form of barrelseal and tumbler locking mechanism used in conjunction with the seal extracting element 15. This seal is struck preferably from a singleV piece of metal or material of a color corresponding with that of the element 15. The seal is substantially flat and is formed with a'nose 23 which merges into an inclined cam face 2a extending in the direction of a tumbler receiving recess 25. it the lower outer corner of the blank, same is curvedoutward at 26, upward at 27, and laterally at 28 forming an arm, on which latter portion is formed a finger 29. l

In Figure 7, a tumbler elevating and seal extracting element 3() is shown. This is struck also from a sheet ofl flat material, and

very closely resembles the form in Figure 5. It is, however, of a different color or suitably formed so as to be distinguished therefrom. The forward end of this blank has a nose 31, a tumbler receiving cam surface32 and a tumbler sustaining surface or shoulder 83, in this instance the shoulder being proportioned to accommodate the first two ltumblers of the group. blank between the ends thereof is an extracting lug 34 arranged in front of a guiding or cam surface 35 on the lower edge of the blank. Y The sealarresting and tumbler elevating element 30 shown in Figure 7 coacts with a seal of corresponding color, the same shown in Figure 8. For practically all intents and purposes, this seal is in substantial agreement with the one shown in Figure 6, except that the tumbler recess 36 is formed nearer the front end or nose 37 than is the case with the form shown in Figure G so that it will engage beneath and finally receive the lower front edges of the two front tumblers of the group. A

Assuming that Vth rbolt of the lock has been projected to secure the door of the safe deposit box in a closed or locked condition, the seal shown in Figure?) is inserted nose end 23 into the slot of the barrel 12, sufficient pressure beingV exerted thereagainst so as to force it far enough into the barrel to `cause its finger 29,to engage with the front face of the escutcheon, the latter acting as a stop. The seal is now accurately positioned with respect to the tumblers, and the first tumbler of the group has fallen into the recess 25. VThe seal now acts more or less as a slug, as it almost .closes the key slot of the barrel being in fact half the thickness of the regular flat key. In view thereof, it is vimpossible for one other than the authorized party to insert a key in the slot of the barrel unless this slug or seal is removed. Then the seal is in its tumbler engaging or active position, the said finger 29 passes into the key guiding slot 3S of the escutcheon or rather the extension of the key slot formed in the fixed rim around the revolvable keybarrel in this type of lock, thus preventing rotation of the barrel and seal.

New, it shall be assumed that the authorized owner wis-hes to release the lock through actuations of his key, followed by actuations of' the tumbler through a previous operation of the master key. The owner of course has in his possession the seal releasing device 15 and the nose end 16 of the element is now guided rinto the keyA slot of the barrel 12 alongside of and so'as to come directly at one side of the seal or plug atwise in the narrow width of the keyway. As it is advanced into the slot, the first tumbler of the group engages with the face 17 until it gradually-rides on to the sustainingy surface Under the the recess is then closed or spanned by the' adjacent end of the element 15.

It Will be observed that the Lipper edge of the element 15 is cut away at 39 to provide a clearance so that the element 15 will compensate itsel't to the seal or lift slightly at its outer end and permit the lug 19 Voli the ele` ment to ride over and engage directly behind the shoulder 4t@ of the seal as shown in Fig. d. The tumbler is now' clear from the seal, and `by drawing in an outward. direction upon the element 15, it, together With the seal, .is extracted. Then this is done, the lawful custodian ofthe box can insert the customary key into the barrel 12 in order that the bolt of the lock can be released fromv its keeper.

As previously stated, it is some times necessary to even prevent the lawful custodian ot the key to the box from gaining access thereto. Sometimes 'this is requiredv as an act of law, where the safety ydeposit box is sealed by orders of the court so that the lawful custodian oit the key, or subscriber to the box cannot at this time gain access thereto by means of his key. rilhe seal used. in conjunction with the element 15 is removed by the proper authorities, and the one shown in Figure 8 substituted therefoigor applied to a customer-s box which had no'pri'vate seal in place. lThe only diil'erence between the seal shown in Figure 8 and the one shown in Figure 6 is that the 'former accommodates tivo tumblers of the locking mechanism. This also applies to difference in construction oit the element 30, Figure 7, over the vform and construction ot' the element 15, Figure 5. I

l prefer that the seal shown in Figure 8 and the extracting element therefor shown in Figure 7 be of distinguishing colors from the color oi the seal of Figure 6 and its extracting element, Figure 5, so as to make it indicative of the fact that this particular safe deposit box has been sealed by the authorities under special orders. This may be for legal purposes in the transaction of matters before a court, or it may be for delinquencies of the subscriber in paying dues or rentals for the box, or like causes. n

A particular point to be noted is the tact that While the releasing and extracting device 15 will only release the seal or plug shown in Fig. '6, the device shown invFig. 7-

(norinally in custody of the authorities) will release either of the seals shown in Figs. 6 and 8,-and therefore the bankunder proper able With one ol said tumblers authorization can remove Va customers private seal and substitute one as per Fig.. 8 Which he cannot remove and consequently his box is locked against him, until aided by proper authorities to open it.

Also another point is,'that the authorities1 seal being oi' al distinctive color 1s instant vnotice to the attendant With the master key that the box is locked by authority.

The combined thickness of the extracting element and the seal which coacts therewith is about equal to the thickness of the key which would engage the slot of the barrel in which these elements tit.

I claim:

l. kln a tumbler 'lock provided withV a revolvable key barrel having a key slot and a notched lixed rim, a plug device adapted for insertion in the key slot and liormed for engagement With a tumbler against Withdrawal, said device 'formed `with aV linger engaging the notch when the device is in position.

2. ln a structure as specitied in claim l said linger being carriedon an arm extending laterally 'from the outer end of the device. l

3. ln atun'ibler lock provided With a revolvable key barrel having akey slot and a notched lined riin, ak plug device adapted ttor insertion in the key slot and formedk itor engagement with a tumbler againstwvithdraival, said device formed. With a linger engaging the notch when the device is in position, said inger carried on an arm ex-v tending laterally from the outer end of the device', and a plug extractii'ig element slidable alongsidey ot said plug into the slot adapted to release said-tumbler and provided With a lug` engaging said arm for Withdrawal of theL plug. Y

4. ln a structure as specified in claim 3 said plug extracting element formed and adapted for bodilytipping at its outer lend for engagement et said lug and arm.

5. ln a tumbler lock ot the sate deposit box type provided with a revolvable key barrel `having a flat key slot extending trans- `versely past the tumblers, means substantially one-halt the thickness of said key slot adapted for insertion therein and engageagainst Withdrawal, and means substantially one-half the thickness osaid slot adapted for insertion therein alongside ot said lirst mentioned means -toi-ined and adapted to release said tumbler. Y i

HIRAM je. siMrsoN. 

